AFC Leopards must learn from past mistakes
Austine Ikenna of AFC Leopards (left) attempts to go past Nairobi City Stars' David Otieno in this file photo. Today, I write with my heart in anguish. I am mourning for our neighbours, otherwise known as AFC Leopards. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- This season has been no different; probably the worst for Leopards in recent years. It is unacceptable for a team of Ingwe’s pedigree to be languishing in the bottom half of the table.
- It is only in Leopards’ matches that referees are allowed to overturn their own decisions and cancel a very legitimate goal. Call it football conspiracies!
- Who doesn’t know that the contracts of key players such as Jackson Saleh are lapsing at the end of the season? These players’ contracts should be renewed today and not tomorrow.
Save for the 2012 KPL season when we started on a high, sustaining a ten-match winning streak, Ingwe has always struggled in the early stages of the season.
The downside to this is that we have been forced to expend a lot of energies playing catch-up to the early pacesetters. This season has been no different; probably the worst for Leopards in recent years. It is unacceptable for a team of Ingwe’s pedigree to be languishing in the bottom half of the table.
Yet, here we are struggling to finish in a respectable position. As bad as things look, I must assure our fans that we will finish in the top eight, you can take this to the bank. I was in Mumias on Saturday and I must salute the boys, particularly Martin Imbalambala for staging a stunning comeback after going two goals down against KCB.
If not for the disallowed goal and the heroics of KCB custodian, we would have secured victory over a very stubborn side.
It is only in Leopards’ matches that referees are allowed to overturn their own decisions and cancel a very legitimate goal. Call it football conspiracies!
Moving on, we are approaching the December transfer window during which we must decide which players to sign. Sadly, this is the time a greedy official will shamelessly argue that Ingwe must sign some deadwood because the Isukha or Idakho quota has not been filled.
I was appalled the other day when I heard some empty head loudly argue that Ingwe is struggling because the first eleven is dominated by Bukusus. What stupidity!
Our executive committee members and their sidekicks must resist the temptation of making some quick bucks by forcing through the recruitment of players we otherwise may not need. The business of player recruitment must be left to the technical bench.
Who doesn’t know that the contracts of key players such as Jackson Saleh are lapsing at the end of the season? These players’ contracts should be renewed today and not tomorrow. We must also go out of our way to commit the long term future of gifted youngsters such as Timonah, Seda, Duncan Otieno, Dennis Dodi and others to Ingwe.
We are who we are - champions - because those who came before Kasavuli had the presence of mind to secure the long term future of guys like Imbalambala, Mangoli, Edwin Wafula and Matasi. I say no more.
